Cattle-stanchion



(No Model.)

W MORGADI GATTLE STAN-GHION.

Patented Sept. 5, 1893.

- ji'fizrren J02 J K:

Int/622607.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

\VARREN MORGAN, OF HOUGHTON, NEW YORK.

CATTLE-STANCHlON.

SEGIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 504,605, dated September 5, 1893.

Application filed June 26,1893.

T0 whom it may concern.-

Be it known that LNVARREN MORGAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Houghton, in the county of Allegany and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Cattle-Stanchions, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to that type of cattle stalls wherein a stanchion bar, pivoted at its lower end, is adapted to be moved and fastened in such position as to securely hold the head of the animal.

The object of myinvention is to provide a novel, simple, efficient, and economical springlocking catch composed of a single piece of wire rod, so constructed or arranged as to antomatically hold and engage the stanchionbar when swung to secure the head of the animal.

To accomplish this object my invention con sists in the features of construction and the combination or arrangement of parts hereinafter described and claimed, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a detail perspective view of a cattle stanchion provided with my invention. Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional view, taken through the upper cross bar of the frame work; and Fig. 3 is a detail perspective view of the spring-locking catch.

In order to enable those skilled in the art to make and use my invention, 1 will now describe the same in detail, referring to the drawings, wherein the numeral 1 indicates the horizontal bottom beam; 2 the horizontal top cross-bar; and 3 the stanchion posts of a cattle stall.

In juxtaposition to one of the stanchion posts is arranged a board at having an inclined inner edge 5, and between the latter and the other stanchion post is arranged a movable stanchion bar 6, having its lower end pivoted to the bottom beam 1 by a transverse pivot 7 in such manner that the stanchion bar can swing in the arc of a circle.

The cross bar 2 is constructed with alongitudinal vertical slot 8, and a longitudinal horizontal slot 9 extending at right angles to the slot 8 and communicating therewith. The upper end of the pivoted stanchion bar 6 is adapted to move in the longitudinal vertical Serial No. 478,841. (No model.)

slot 8, and for the purpose of locking the stanchion bar in the position indicated by full lines, Fig. 2, for the purpose of holding the head of an animal, 1 provide a very simple spring-locking catch, which is composed of a single strip or piece of wire rod having one end portion 10 extending transversely through the cross-bar 2, and provided with a screw-threaded extremity 12, with which engages a screw nut 13 for securely holding it in position. The main body or member 14 of the wire rod lies horizontal at one side of the cross-bar 2, and is turned laterally to form a bend 15, which constitutes a finger piece 15, and is then bent inwardly through the slot 9 to form a horizontal catch arm 16, the extremity of which is inclined in a direction toward the end portion 10 of the wire-rod, for the purpose of forming a beveled member 17, against which the upper end of the pivoted stanchion bar 6 operates to press the catch arm outwardly, and thus enable the stanchion bar to pass into locking engagement with said catch arm. The main body or member lat of the wire rod is coiled, as at 18, to form a spring by which the requisite elasticity is imparted to the catch, so that when the stanchion bar has acted on the inclined member 17 to press the catch arm 16 in an outward direction for the passage of the stanchion bar, the said catch arm will instantly spring into the slot 8, and thereby lock the stanchion bar in the position required to hold the head of the animal.

The upper cross bar 2 is preferably composed of two parallel pieces of timber bolted to the upper ends of the stanchion posts 3, and by passing the end portion 10 of the wire rod transversely through the two pieces of timber, this part of the spring-locking catch aids in firmly securing the top cross bar in position.

To release the stanchion bar from its locked position, the outward bent portion 15 of the wire rod is grasped by the fingers and drawn outward, so that the stanchion bar can then be swung toward the inclined edge 5 of the board 1 to the position indicated by dotted lines, Fig. 1.

To prevent displacement of the spring-locking catch by drawing it outward to an undue extent, I provide the slotted part 9 of the cross bar 2 with a vertical stop-pin 19, which lies between the catch arm 16 and the inclined or beveled member 17 in such manner that when the catch arm is drawn outward by operating the bend or finger piece 15, the inclined or beveled member 17 strikes the stop pin 19 and limits the outward movement.

The specific construction described possesses utility and merit, in that a very simple and economical construction of spring fastener for the pivoted stanchion bar is provided, and in this respect the invention is advantageous over those devices which comprise independent springs and pivoted or other catches for locking the pivoted stanchion bar.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is-- In a cattle stanchion, the combination with the pivoted stanchion bar 6, a top cross bar 2 having a longitudinal vertical slot 8, and a longitudinal horizontal slot 9 communicating therewith, of a spring-locking catch composed of a single strip of wire rod formed intermediate its ends with a coil 18, one end secured to the top cross bar, and the other end portion formed with an outwardly bent fingerpiece 15, an inwardly bent horizontal catch arm 16, and an inclined member 17 against which the upper end of the stanchion bar operates to press the catch arm outward for the passage of the stanchion bar into lockingengagement with said catch arm, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

A. D. MINER, P. M. ARNOLD. 

